Aunt Norie’s sewing room

Times are tough for many right now. Those of us who remember those times know it’s really got a ways to go.

One old timer the other day said, “You ain’t seen nothing yet.” Then he recalled how he and his wife started out, how they planned to get married, saved up their money for rent, utilities and such. They had their families saving their orange crates, nail kegs, wooden fruit boxes and crates of any sort. You see, many things came in wooden boxes or crates that never were thrown away. Sometimes you made deposits on them and they were reused.

The old gentleman laughed, remembering with such joy those happy days. You see, they used, as many couples did then, those nail kegs for stools or chairs. The little wife covered them with fabric or just made ruffled cushions for the top. Orange crates were used for dishes, bookshelves, etc.

One thing they always bought was a mattress, the springs and bedstead could wait, you see. Oh yes, many happy newlyweds just spread a sheet on the floor on which to lay the mattress. They usually, if both were working, kept on working until she got pregnant, after which she became a stay-at-home mom.

Young girls growing up always had a hope chest filled with linens for her new home when they got married. It was filled with dish towels, hand-embroidered pillow cases, dresser scarves, doilies, etc. The dish towels were for each day of the week and Monday was always for laundry and so on.

Too many young couples today have to have it all before ever starting. They begin married life deep in debt. We won’t go there…

One young dad the other day said, “I’ve been saving just $5 every week. I’ve not missed it and guess what it’s now up to? $500,” adding “and it’s going to be just for an emergency.”

That’s America for you. Where there’s a will, there’s a way. Hang in there and pray for this land of ours and our leaders.